For decades, floral foam has been a staple in floristry, providing structure and hydration to stunning arrangements. Behind the convenience lies a growing environmental concern. The industry is at a turning point, with florists and designers seeking greener alternatives.
The good news? Innovation is blooming! In response to the sustainability challenge, companies have been developing new, eco-friendlier options that aim to balance performance with environmental responsibility. In this article, we dive deeper into four of the latest floral foam alternatives making the biggest waves in the industry:
- OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam
- Phoam from Phoam Labs
- OASIS® TerraBrick® Floral Media
- Agra-Wool International – Sideau®
Are these the game-changers florists have been waiting for? Let’s find out!
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TÜV Austria Certification: The Benchmark for Sustainability
Before looking at the products individually it’s important to understand label on them.
TÜV Austria certification is a trusted standard for verifying the environmental compliance of products, ensuring that they meet stringent sustainability, biodegradability, and non-toxic criteria. Two notable certifications from TÜV Austria—OK Biobased and OK Compost Industrial—play key roles in establishing the eco-credentials of floral foam alternatives.
The OK Biobased certification with a 4-star rating guarantees that at least 80% of a product’s content comes from renewable resources, highlighting its low environmental impact and sustainability.
The OK Compost Industrial certification confirms that the product can break down fully in industrial composting conditions, which can reduce landfill waste.
As florists increasingly seek to replace traditional floral foam with more sustainable options, these certifications act as a reliable indicator of a product’s eco-credentials.
Let’s now take a closer look at four products that are leading the charge in sustainable floristry……
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OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam: A Plant-Based Reinvention
OASIS® Floral Products, a worldwide leader in the floriculture and floral design industry, recently launched a new plant-based alternative at IPM Essen in January 2025.
“Smithers-Oasis is extremely excited about this product, Our global Research team has been pursuing this project for many, many years. Simply being a plant-based product wasn’t enough. We needed this to deliver the look, feel, and performance that florists have come to trust in our petroleum-based OASIS® Floral Foams. At last, we have achieved it!”
Robin Kilbride, President and CEO of Smithers-Oasis
Certification and Sustainability
This product has achieved OK biobased certification from TÜV Austria with a 4-star rating, the highest available. Additionally, it boasts a 56% lower carbon footprint from cradle to grave compared to its petroleum-based equivalent green foam. The manufacturer is currently conducting a two-year testing phase to assess its end-of-life disposal and biodegradability. Until further confirmation, it should be disposed of in General Waste. In areas that incinerate for energy recovery (like Leeds) the product can go to incineration, and if it does, that actually gives OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam a carbon neutral status!
Performance and Ease of Use:
OASIS® Renewal™ is designed to mimic traditional floral foam in look, feel, and function. It absorbs and retains water well, florists will need to test for themselves to experience the structure of the block. Florists who used it at the launch expressed being pleased with its performance. A key feature is its lack of added dyes; the foam is naturally dark when dry but turns black when wet. This helps florists achieve the same design coverage with 25% fewer stems, reducing costs.
Additionally, OASIS® Renewal™ is designed to work with all stem types, from the most delicate or hollow to woody or thick tropical stems, eliminating the need for multiple foam densities.
Flower Life
With flower food blooms can last 7-8 days, slightly less than traditional green foam (10-11 days).
Availability
The product is initially launching in the United States, Canada, Europe, UK, Australia, Republic of Korea, and Japan. A free sample program is being offered so floral designers can try the product for themselves, with full availability expected later this year.
Phoam Labs: The World’s First Industrially Compostable Floral Foam
Another major breakthrough comes from Phoam Labs, which has developed Phoam, the first industrially compostable floral foam primarily made from PLA, a plant-based material derived from industrial field corn. In the future, they plan to explore renewable feedstocks like sugarcane or even agricultural waste, making Phoam even more sustainable.
“The materials that go into our floral foam are grown in just one growing season, keeping our impact as light as possible”.
Certification and Compostability
Phoam has earned TÜV Austria’s OK Biobased certification, confirming that it is made from renewable resources. Additionally, it holds the OK Compost Industrial certification, meaning it is capable of breaking down fully in industrial composting conditions. Testing showed Phoam degraded 90% within 17 days and completely within 25 days.
“Reducing plastic waste is at the heart of our mission, but we know that most florists can’t compost their business waste at home. That’s why we’ve focused on achieving Industrial Compostability Certification at this stage.”
Phoam Labs continues….
“Industrial composting operates on a larger scale, with higher temperatures and better monitoring than home composting, ensuring a faster and safer process. It’s a system designed to handle items that wouldn’t break down properly in a home setup. By prioritising industrial composting, we’re making sure Phoam can be part of a sustainable waste stream that truly works for florists”.
Certification is a rigorous process that takes around 18 months. Products must degrade into environmentally friendly byproducts and be indistinguishable from other compost materials to meet the standards.
“This is a proud moment for our team. We’ve always aimed to obtain compostable certification for Phoam, and now it’s here. By replacing traditional phenolic foams, our compostable Phoam has the potential to transform the industry and offer florists more sustainable choices.”
Co-founder and CEO Dundee Butcher
Performance and Ease of Use
Phoam has a slightly firmer texture than traditional floral foam. While it provides strong stem support and hydration, florists may need to adjust techniques to accommodate its structure. Phoam does not crumble.
Flower Life
Most flowers last 5–7 days in Phoam and you can add additional water as needed.
Availability
Phoam Labs is currently running a pilot testing programme and plans to launch Phoam in the UK in the coming months.
OASIS® TerraBrick® Floral Media: A Home Compostable Option
For florists seeking a home-compostable alternative, OASIS® TerraBrick® Floral Media provides a floral media option that is made from renewable coir (coconut fibre) and a compostable binder.
Certification and Sustainability
It is certified OK Compost HOME, ensuring it breaks down naturally without leaving harmful residues.
Performance and Ease of Use
TerraBrick is denser than traditional floral foam, requiring pre-poked holes for delicate stems. It has strong water absorption, but florists may need to use additional hydration methods.
Flower Life and Availability
Flowers last 3-4 days, making it a better choice for short-term displays. Currently available in the UK, it comes in a natural brown colour that integrates well into designs.
Agra-Wool Sideau®: 100% Natural Floral Foam
Agra-Wool Natural Floral Foam ( Sideau®) is another sustainable floral medium gaining traction. Agra-Wool offers a fully biodegradable, home-compostable floral medium made from 97% basalt (volcanic rock) fibres bonded with a 3% bio-based sucrose binder.
Certification and Sustainability
Sideau® leaves only basalt flour as residue and although not TUV tested as far as we can see, it does hold other certifications. Notably the Sustainable florist logo which is a Dutch initiative that florists can join to assess their sustainability. It is connected to SMK which manages quality marks. The product that florists use was developed from the same materials used in agricultural growing as a medium to root plants.
Performance and Ease of Use
- Excellent water retention (use 1500ml water per brick)
- It can be used for a second time by, for instance, wrapping chicken wire around it
- Firm and flexible, securing stems well, but florists note that it behaves differently from traditional foam. It requires a different handling technique, as it does not compress in the same way.
- Can be used wet or dry, ideal for fresh, silk, and dried arrangements
The blocks can be used for funeral arrangements at natural cemeteries and can be shredded together with the flowers and later deposited on the compost heap.
If you have pieces left over after cutting the Sideau® blocks into shapes, you can easily tear these pieces into smaller parts and keep them. Put them in a pot, vase or wooden crate and use as a substitute for potting soil. Anything with a root will grow on it.
“We make auction boxes filled with the remnants of, among other things, the pitch blocks for growing vegetables and fruit”
The Future of Sustainable Floral Design
The floral industry is undergoing a transformation. With plant-based, compostable, and reusable alternatives entering the market, florists now have more choices than ever to reduce their environmental impact. Whether opting for industrially compostable Phoam, plant-based OASIS® Renewal™, home-compostable TerraBrick, or fully biodegradable Sideau®, sustainability is no longer such a challenge—it’s an opportunity.
As these innovations continue to evolve, one thing is clear: the future of floristry is green, and it’s here to stay.
At the BFA, we value hearing about your experiences and feedback, and we’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest news on sustainable alternatives in floral foam mediums.
